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Another Precious Volume

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 28, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 13.

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Another Precious Volume

By George Ide Butler

GEO. I. BUTLER
It has been the writer’s privilege recently to receive and peruse a book of six hundred thirty pages, entitled “The Acts of the Apostles,” from the pen of Mrs. Ellen G. White. This is the book of her old age, for she is now past eighty-four. From her fruitful pen have come “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Great Controversy,” “Desire of Ages,” and many minor volumes of deepest interest.
The writer, having read this new volume, greatly desires to call the attention of the many readers of the REVIEW to this excellent work. It is a calm, very clear, and most interesting presentation of the main facts in the lives of the apostles, especially of Paul, Peter, and John, with quite a full account of the progress of the gospel during apostolic times. It is also a very clear commentary upon the doctrinal writings of the apostles. It sets forth in powerful, convincing language the earnestness and the sacrificing spirit of their labors, their faithfulness even unto death itself.
We as a people claim to be giving the last message of mercy to the world, which will close with the end of probation. The great and noble work of the Reformation has been progressing through the last few centuries. The circulation of the Sacred Scriptures in all languages among all nations has been paving the way for the great last-day message of warning which this people are commissioned to give to the world. We claim that this last-day movement is the culmination of the work of the Reformation which has so long been in progress, and is designed to bring back a people to the apostolic standard of religion when men and women were compelled to suffer for Christ. Read this: “And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5: 40-42. Could we equal that in our zeal?
Notice Paul and Silas in jail, their feet made fast in the stocks, in a most uncomfortable position. Their backs were bloody with stripes, but they were singing the praises of God in the darkness of midnight. God was so well pleased with their zeal and spirit of rejoicing in tribulation that he sent a mighty earthquake, and the bonds of the prisoners fell off; all were loosed. The jailer was about to kill himself because he expected all the prisoners would get away, but Paul, when he perceived it, cried out, “Do thyself no harm; for we are all here.” The poor man came, all broken down, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” How many of us could imitate Paul and Silas under similar circumstances? We believe the truth, but we need apostolic zeal and devotion.
The writer would recommend this good book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” which brings before us in the most vivid manner the apostolic spirit. Our work is fully equal in importance to their work. We are in the perils of the last days with a world to warn. God has given us blessed light in this volume. The aged servant of God has written it to stir up our zeal, increase our love, inspire our hope, clear away the doubts and fog of worldliness and selfishness, and prepare us for the coming of the Son of man.
This people, because of the truths it professes and the stand it has taken upon the law of God and the faith of Jesus, has come back to the truths of the apostolic church. But alas! we have not yet fully partaken of the earnestness, the zeal, the spirit of sacrifice, the intense interest, the complete self-abnegation, and the Christian love of Peter, Paul, and John. We know little of persecution. We have not seen thousands upon thousands cast into prison and led to death. We fear a great scattering would come among us under such conditions.
About all our people can yet stand is sundry calls for money with which to carry on our work. Many of our old, experienced believers are making and piling up money in banks, etc., and do not hasten to pour out of their funds even at the strongest calls. What should we think to see our buildings burned, our loved ones hurried away to prison, or taken out and hanged, shot, or beheaded? Of a truth, we need more of the apostolic zeal and devotion, that love that will sustain us in the darkest hour, yea, that will fill us with rejoicing.
This volume fills in most beautifully the interesting experiences of the early apostolic days, when the Christian religion was most pure, like the clear fountain springing forth at the foot of the mountain. That was the beginning of the gospel work. We are living near its ending, and need all the light it is possible to obtain. The writer is most thankful for this blessed volume. It will be found very helpful to all who read it with the right spirit.
Bowling Green, Fla.